The Customs Department of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) on Monday (Aug 26) commenced a rigorous weeklong refresher and capacity-building training program for at least 50 customs officers stationed at rural ports across Liberia. This initiative underscores the LRA’s commitment to enhancing the skills and knowledge of its customs officers, which is crucial for effective revenue collection and trade facilitation.

The training is taking place in the port city of Ganta, Nimba County, where participants are being equipped with refreshed knowledge, skills, and attitudes in key areas. These include customs procedures and regimes, port operations, valuation and tax calculations, taxation on international trade, and the legal frameworks governing tax types and calculations. The training cohort includes Senior Customs Collectors, Chief Assessors, Chief Examiners, Cashiers, and Examiners, all of whom are gaining a deeper understanding of their roles and responsibilities in their day-to-day work.

To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the material, the officers are engaging in both theoretical and practical exercises. This approach will allow participants to evaluate their grasp of the training content and their ability to implement the knowledge in real-world scenarios effectively.

Mr. William L. Buku, Assistant Commissioner for Customs Policy and Technical Operations and one of the facilitators of the training, emphasized the ongoing nature of learning in the customs field. “Learning is a continuous process, and with the ever-emerging developments in international trade, the LRA remains committed to continuously building the capacity of our customs officers. This will ensure they are on par with their counterparts globally and exhibit best international practices in their daily operations,” Buku stated.

Adding to the sentiment, Assistant Customs Commissioner for Ports Operations, Edwin Kendema, encouraged the participants to fully engage in the training. “Take this training seriously,” Kendema urged. “The knowledge you acquire here is essential, especially as we strive to increase our revenue collection from the millions to the billions. Your role is pivotal in achieving our national revenue goals.”

Out of the 2024 national budget of US$738.8 million, the LRA is mandated to collect US$696.426 million domestically, with the Customs Department responsible for a substantial share of US$198.213 million, LRA Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah recently told a cabinet meeting chaired by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.  An additional external resource of approximately US$42 million is anticipated to equate the entire budget to US$ US$738.8.

As of July 31, 2024, the LRA had already collected 59% (US$412.370 million) of the annual budget, with the Customs Department contributing US$124.796 million, which represents 63% of its annual target.

This underscores the critical role of the Customs Department in achieving Liberia’s revenue collection goals and highlights the importance of continuous training and capacity-building initiatives.

The ongoing training is a cornerstone of the LRA’s strategy to maintain professionalism, facilitate seamless international trade, and significantly boost revenue collection. It also aligns with the authority’s goal of ensuring social protection and economic stability for Liberia.

The collectors are gathered from the ports of Bo-Waterside, Mendikorma, Yeala, Ganta, Jorwah, Yekepa, Luogatuo, Buutuo, Toe Town, Harper, Greenville and Buchanan.

The LRA recognizes the vital role that customs operations play in revenue collection and national development. As such, initiatives like this capacity-building training are fundamental in driving the LRA’s mission to remain a professional and efficient institution that supports Liberia’s economic agenda.